thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Apr 26, 2015 10:59:11 GMT -5
A friend of mine was on the plane to fulfill his lifelong dream of going to Mt Everest. He has been talking about it as long as I have known him, and planning it for the past year. He is in China - safe, happy to have missed it, sad for the people who are harmed by the earthquake, and disappointed about his "once in a lifetime" trip. I **think** his emotions are appropriately proportioned, and I think he feels crappy about thinking about himself.
If they had scheduled their trip hours, days, or even a week earlier, he could have easily been caught in the disaster. Amazing what we miss by the hair of our chin.
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NastyWoman
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Post by NastyWoman on Apr 26, 2015 13:41:14 GMT -5
If they had scheduled their trip hours, days, or even a week earlier, he could have easily been caught in the disaster. Amazing what we miss by the hair of our chin. No kidding. A couple of years ago when they had that big earthquake in Japan DS1 was in a plane in the final descent in Tokyo. Plane was diverted DS ended up in Seoul were he was stuck for a few days and finally made it to Seattle the day before DS2 wedding. I was so happy he made it in time, yet felt guilty for feeling happy when so many lost their lives.
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on Apr 26, 2015 13:46:59 GMT -5
DH almost took the Lockerbie flight.
We flew home from Hong Kong on 9/10.
We need to count our blessings every day.
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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"How you win matters." Ender, Ender's Game
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Apr 26, 2015 13:59:42 GMT -5
We were on vacation in Maine during the week of the 4th of July last summer. I came home on the 3rd to do a few things. When I was ready to head back up to Maine, a tornado warning was issued for a stretch of 95 North in Portsmouth, NH. So, I stayed home and decided to sleep there, and then get up really early on the 4th and drive back. Around 7:00 p.m. on the 3rd, I suddenly and inexplicably changed my mind, hopped in the car and drove uneventfully back to Maine. The microburst that sent the tree into my house that night hit at 10:30. The tree fell through the roof and attic onto my bed where I likely would have been sleeping, bringing chunks of roof and beams with it. My point? My late, beloved, mother is, fortunately in this case, still telling me what to do.
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Artemis Windsong
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Post by Artemis Windsong on Apr 26, 2015 15:56:22 GMT -5
Yike. It pays to listen to that little voice.
I, too, feel dreadful for Nepal and the surrounding countries.
About all I can do is send a prayer blessing of pure love and light. A blessing of purified source energy.
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swamp
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THEY’RE EATING THE DOGS!!!!!!!
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Post by swamp on Apr 26, 2015 19:52:04 GMT -5
A friend of mine was on the plane to fulfill his lifelong dream of going to Mt Everest. He has been talking about it as long as I have known him, and planning it for the past year. He is in China - safe, happy to have missed it, sad for the people who are harmed by the earthquake, and disappointed about his "once in a lifetime" trip. I **think** his emotions are appropriately proportioned, and I think he feels crappy about thinking about himself. If they had scheduled their trip hours, days, or even a week earlier, he could have easily been caught in the disaster. Amazing what we miss by the hair of our chin. I guy I wnet to HS with works in NYC. On 9/11/01 he had a breakfast meeting at Windows on the World, the restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center. He could not make the meeting to to some family obligation.
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NastyWoman
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Post by NastyWoman on Apr 26, 2015 19:57:29 GMT -5
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thyme4change
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Post by thyme4change on Apr 26, 2015 19:57:37 GMT -5
He is in Ghaungzhuo. He never got to Nepal. He was in the air when the quake hit - so he isn't necessarily where they were evacuating people - just where they re-routed his plane. I think it was re-routed. Would you change planes in China to go to Nepal? All of a sudden I just got geography-stupid.
I hope your SS is okay and you will hear more information soon. What a nightmare.
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Gardening Grandma
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Post by Gardening Grandma on Apr 26, 2015 20:02:58 GMT -5
DH and I are looking at our photos of Nepal in 2013. The loss of lives is dreadful and the destruction of the ancient antiquities is tragic.
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simser
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Post by simser on Apr 26, 2015 20:12:53 GMT -5
You could change planes in China to get to Nepal, but Guangzhou isn't a likely city.
I have a friend who was supposed to go in 2 weeks. He was going to Nepal and I was going to Africa and we wondered whose trip was more dangerous. Now we aren't sure he will be going. And I'm glad my Africa trip won't involve many buildings!!
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taz157
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Post by taz157 on Apr 26, 2015 20:20:22 GMT -5
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GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl
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Post by GRG a/k/a goldenrulegirl on Apr 27, 2015 10:24:33 GMT -5
deminmaine, seeing as your SS was in Nepal, one can assume he already has the ability to get by with minimal creature comforts. He sounds like an adventurer -- that will keep him well until he can reach more secure lodging. I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Apr 27, 2015 11:29:51 GMT -5
Thanks GRG (and others) Yeah, he's pretty self sufficient, and I "think" he is actually outside of the immediate quake zone too at this point.
We will just feel a whole lot better when we hear from HIM. Absolutely. IN the meantime, I'm thinking positively and expect you will hear from him in a few hours. Would the embassies be able to help any?
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Apr 27, 2015 11:42:17 GMT -5
DH almost took the Lockerbie flight.
We flew home from Hong Kong on 9/10.
We need to count our blessings every day. My Sicilian grandmother had a sudden change of plans and sold her ticket on the Titanic three days before it left .
On a more serious note, I feel horrible for everyone in Nepal right now. My local fire station here in La La Land just sent men, search dogs, sonar and heavy equipment to Katmandu. I hope they can help find people, or at least bring closure for victims
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NastyWoman
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Post by NastyWoman on Apr 27, 2015 21:09:29 GMT -5
HE IS SAFE!!! He flew out to Chengdu in central China where his wife and baby flew in to meet him. (they live near Beijing)
All is well!!!
Signed in again just to join your celebration deminmaine
Whew.
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Wisconsin Beth
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Post by Wisconsin Beth on Apr 28, 2015 6:42:18 GMT -5
HE IS SAFE!!! He flew out to Chengdu in central China where his wife and baby flew in to meet him. (they live near Beijing)
All is well!!!
Whew. Thank goodness! I'm so glad you have such good news.
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Apr 28, 2015 9:53:47 GMT -5
I donated through Operation USA which has a 95% rating from Charity Navigator and has less than 2% overhead costs.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on Apr 28, 2015 12:07:11 GMT -5
I'm so happy your SS is safe Dem!
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Value Buy
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Post by Value Buy on May 12, 2015 12:51:32 GMT -5
Tennesseer, is that from today's quake, or the first one?
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on May 12, 2015 15:49:32 GMT -5
My son is there. He was supposed to go back to his main posting tomorrow but because of today's quake, he's staying longer. To be honest I don't know if he's staying longer because his NGO wants him to, or because the flights are messed up. (I was told but I don't remember.)
When I got the voicemail from his HR manager that he was fine, I hadn't even been aware that there had been another quake. I didn't hear (or didn't register) the fact that DS1 was fine. My phone was ringing off the hook, same number which I didn't recognize. I was out of town at the main campus for our end-of-year meeting. After 3 calls from the same number in less than 5 min I figured it was important. I listened to the voicemail but accidentally hit "loudspeaker". The whole room heard "this is the HR manager of (DS1's NGO)", "another earthquake", "call me back", at which point I ran screaming out of the room. Thankfully DS2 called me a few minutes later.
It's just horrific. Those poor, poor people.
Obviously I'm still extremely shaken up.
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Spellbound454
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Post by Spellbound454 on May 12, 2015 15:55:43 GMT -5
Another one today. Poor people, especially children must be scared. We have been raising money for the passed 3 weeks but they are going to need quite a lot more by the looks of things.
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Tennesseer
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Post by Tennesseer on May 12, 2015 18:02:42 GMT -5
Tennesseer, is that from today's quake, or the first one? It was the first. I deleted the video because it crashed and cannot get it to reload correctly again.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on May 12, 2015 18:34:22 GMT -5
Honey I wish there was info like that here. Maybe it does exist, I haven't researched it.
I'm embarrassed to say that we still haven't donated, because I can't decide where to donate to. DS1 tells me to donate to his NGO, but I don't know the proportion of overhead costs. I'm guessing it's relatively low because I know how they operate. But I also feel that in a way, I'm already "donating" plenty to them already (yes I know DS1 is not technically a donation, but still).
I WANT to donate, but elsewhere.
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Bonny
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Post by Bonny on May 12, 2015 18:51:00 GMT -5
Honey I wish there was info like that here. Maybe it does exist, I haven't researched it. I'm embarrassed to say that we still haven't donated, because I can't decide where to donate to. DS1 tells me to donate to his NGO, but I don't know the proportion of overhead costs. I'm guessing it's relatively low because I know how they operate. But I also feel that in a way, I'm already "donating" plenty to them already (yes I know DS1 is not technically a donation, but still). I WANT to donate, but elsewhere. If you have the ability just donate to his NGO. Don't overthink this.
He will be proud of you.
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mmhmm
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Post by mmhmm on May 12, 2015 19:02:41 GMT -5
So glad your SS is well, deminmaine. My heart goes out to the people of Nepal.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on May 12, 2015 19:06:33 GMT -5
Good advice Bonny.
As we are proud of him.
ETA: He only got back to Kat yesterday because he was supposed to be flying out tomorrow.
ETA2: Thank you Bonny! I went onto their website and they have a special certification. I looked it up, and indeed donations with go further with them. So they do indeed have the same thing here!
ETA3: Done! :-)
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Value Buy
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Post by Value Buy on May 12, 2015 19:19:15 GMT -5
And now we have a missing helicopter with six marines aboard. No distress signal. Two Nepalese military also.
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on May 12, 2015 19:22:03 GMT -5
Oh no!
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debthaven
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Post by debthaven on May 12, 2015 19:31:14 GMT -5
Prayers for them. Apparently they had to call off the search last night because of the dark, but it's dawn there now, or nearly.
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NastyWoman
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Post by NastyWoman on May 12, 2015 20:53:23 GMT -5
I'm so happy that your DS is ok Debt!
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